NPR 2008-08-16

President Bush again blamed Russia for the week-long crisis in Georgia and called on Moscow to withdraw its combat troops. He spoke¹ as Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was in the Georgian capital, pushing for implementation² of a French-brokered cease-fire. NPR's Jennifer Ludden reports.

Mr. Bush said the US stands by Georgia because that country has cast its lot with the West, opening its economy and holding elections. He accused Russia of a Cold War mindset marked by "bullying³ and intimidation⁴". "Begin to repair its relations with the United States, Europe and other nations, and to begin restoring its place in the world, Russia must respect the freedom of its neighbors." Russia's president Friday accused the US of antagonizing Moscow. He claimed US support for a new missile defense⁵ facility in Poland is aimed at reining⁶ in Russia. President Dmitry Medvedev also asserted Georgia's two separatist region South Ossetia and Abkhazia likely will never be part of Georgia again. Jennifer Ludden, NPR News, Washington.

The Food and Drug Administration said today it is sticking to its position that the chemical found in baby bottles does not pose a health threat. More on the story from NPR's Richard Harris.

Bisphenol A rose to the top of some people's worry lists after one federal agency, the National Toxicology Program said there was "some concern" about the chemical. It is somewhat similar to the hormone⁷ estrogen, so in certain doses it can have biological effects. However the FDA has maintained that so little leaches⁸ out of plastic baby bottles, the linings⁹ of food cans and other common plastics that people shouldn't worry about it. The agency has now reaffirmed that position in a draft review of the chemical, but that doesn't satisfy people who are concerned about it. Canada is planning to ban the chemical and California is considering restrictions¹⁰ as well. Richard Harris, NPR News.

The AFL-CIO and a number of other labor¹¹ groups are calling on the Federal Election Commission to look into whether retail¹² giant Wal-Mart sought to pressure employees on how to vote in the upcoming election. The request comes on the heels of a Wall Street Journal report that said while the retailer¹³ held meetings to warn managers and supervisors¹⁴ about what might happen, should Democrats¹⁵ win in the fall, Wal-Mart for its part says it did nothing wrong and said the government will find that if it chooses to investigate the matter. At issue in the case is whether by discussing a law that would make it easier for workers to unionize, the retailer was seeking to dissuade¹⁶ employees from casting votes for Democratic candidates.

A key index of consumer sentiment improved slightly this month in part due to a dip in  gas prices. However, the slight rise in the Reuters/University of Michigan index did little to ease fears consumer spending is likely to weaken further later in the year. The index rose slightly, up five tenths of one percent.

On Wall Street today, the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 44 points to end the week at 11,659. The NASDAQ fell a point, the Standard&Poor's 500 was up five points today.

This is NPR.

Output at the nation's mines and factories rose slightly in July. The Federal Reserve says the two tenths of a percent increase was a result of increased manufacturing activity. The biggest increase was in motor vehicles and parts, up for a third straight month. Warmer than normal weather also boosted electricity usage. The government says factories, mines and utilities were operating at nearly 80% capacity.

Jerry Wexler has died as a producer at Atlantic Records. Wexler helped shape the sound of the 20th century. Jerry Wexler suffered from a congenital heart disease. He died early this morning at his home in Sarasota, Florida. NPR's Neda Ulaby reports.

If you own an album or MP3 by Ray Charles, Dusty Springfield or Aretha Franklin, there is a good chance it was produced by Gerry Wexler. Wexler was a New York City kid who loved Jazz and Soul. He served in World War II, then became a music journalist at Billboard¹⁷ magazine, where he coined the term "rhythm and blues¹⁸". He also refused during the McCarthy era to compile a blacklist dossier on the folk group the Weavers¹⁹. So Wexler left for Atlantic Records and started producing hits. Wexler insisted that Soul and R&B were commercially viable²⁰ for a broad audience and he was a major architect of its sound. Neda Ulaby, NPR News.

Mrs. Fields Cookie chain announced today it plans to file for bankruptcy²¹. The company which in addition to its cookie business also licenses²² and franchises²³ the TCBY Yogurt chain says it's begun soliciting²⁴ votes for a prepackaged reorganization plan. Company says it is unable to make an interest payment on its debt in September.

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 implementation   

n.实施，贯彻

参考例句：

• Implementation of the program is now well underway.这一项目的实施现在行情看好。

3 bullying   

v.恐吓，威逼( bully的现在分词 )；豪；跋扈

参考例句：

• Many cases of bullying go unreported . 很多恐吓案件都没有人告发。
• All cases of bullying will be severely dealt with. 所有以大欺小的情况都将受到严肃处理。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 intimidation   

n.恐吓，威胁

参考例句：

• The Opposition alleged voter intimidation by the army.反对党声称投票者受到军方的恐吓。
• The gang silenced witnesses by intimidation.恶帮用恐吓的手段使得证人不敢说话。

5 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

6 reining   

勒缰绳使（马）停步( rein的现在分词 )； 驾驭； 严格控制； 加强管理

参考例句：

• "That's a fine bevy, Ma'm,'said Gerald gallantly, reining his horse alongside the carriage. "太太！好一窝漂亮的云雀呀！" 杰拉尔德殷勤地说，一面让自己的马告近塔尔顿的马车。
• I was a temperamental genius in need of reining in by stabler personalities. 我是个需要由更稳重的人降服住的神经质的天才。

7 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

8 leaches   

n.（将化学品、矿物质等）过滤( leach的名词复数 )；（液体）过滤，滤去

参考例句：

• People consume it when it leaches from plastic into baby formula, water or food in container. 当它被从塑料中经沥滤而入婴儿配方奶粉、水或罐装食品当中的时候，人们将其摄入。 来自互联网
• After this article uses is also the microwave pretreatment, leaches the method with the solution. 本文采用的也是微波预处理后用溶液浸取的方法。 来自互联网

9 linings   

n.衬里( lining的名词复数 )；里子；衬料；组织

参考例句：

• a pair of leather gloves with fur linings 一双毛皮衬里的皮手套
• Many of the garments have the customers' name tags sewn into the linings. 这些衣服有很多内衬上缝有顾客的姓名签。 来自辞典例句

10 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

11 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

12 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

13 retailer   

n.零售商(人)

参考例句：

• What are the retailer requirements?零售商会有哪些要求呢？
• The retailer has assembled a team in Shanghai to examine the question.这家零售商在上海组建了一支团队研究这个问题。

14 supervisors   

n.监督者，管理者( supervisor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• I think the best technical people make the best supervisors. 我认为最好的技术人员可以成为最好的管理人员。 来自辞典例句
• Even the foremen or first-level supervisors have a staffing responsibility. 甚至领班或第一线的监督人员也有任用的责任。 来自辞典例句

15 democrats   

n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Democrats held a pep rally on Capitol Hill yesterday. 民主党昨天在国会山召开了竞选誓师大会。
• The democrats organize a filibuster in the senate. 民主党党员组织了阻挠议事。 来自《简明英汉词典》

16 dissuade   

v.劝阻，阻止

参考例句：

• You'd better dissuade him from doing that.你最好劝阻他别那样干。
• I tried to dissuade her from investing her money in stocks and shares.我曾设法劝她不要投资于股票交易。

17 billboard   

n.布告板，揭示栏，广告牌

参考例句：

• He ploughed his energies into his father's billboard business.他把精力投入到父亲的广告牌业务中。
• Billboard spreads will be simpler and more eye-catching.广告牌广告会比较简单且更引人注目。

18 blues   

n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐

参考例句：

• She was in the back of a smoky bar singing the blues.她在烟雾弥漫的酒吧深处唱着布鲁斯歌曲。
• He was in the blues on account of his failure in business.他因事业失败而意志消沉。

19 weavers   

织工，编织者( weaver的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The Navajo are noted as stockbreeders and skilled weavers, potters, and silversmiths. 纳瓦霍人以豢养家禽，技术熟练的纺织者，制陶者和银匠而著名。
• They made out they were weavers. 他们假装是织布工人。

20 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

21 bankruptcy   

n.破产；无偿付能力

参考例句：

• You will have to pull in if you want to escape bankruptcy.如果你想避免破产，就必须节省开支。
• His firm is just on thin ice of bankruptcy.他的商号正面临破产的危险。

22 licenses   

n.执照( license的名词复数 )v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Drivers have ten days' grace to renew their licenses. 驾驶员更换执照有10天的宽限期。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Jewish firms couldn't get import or export licenses or raw materials. 犹太人的企业得不到进出口许可证或原料。 来自辞典例句

23 franchises   

n.（尤指选举议员的）选举权( franchise的名词复数 )；参政权；获特许权的商业机构（或服务）；（公司授予的）特许经销权v.给…以特许权，出售特许权( franchise的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• TV franchises will be auctioned to the highest bidder. 电视特许经营权将拍卖给出价最高的投标人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Ford dealerships operated as independent franchises. 福特汽车公司的代销商都是独立的联营商。 来自辞典例句

24 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》